State police trooper injured in I-270 traffic stop

Trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries; was released from hospital

A Gaithersburg man hit an unmarked police car that was in the middle of a traffic stop on Interstate 270 Thursday evening, sending that trooper to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Shane Clarkson Stepek, 19, of Gaithersburg, was driving his car south on I-270 at Falls Road at about 6:30 p.m. when he struck a gray Mercedes in the right rear bumper and kept going, according to a state police report. Police said Stepek lost control of his car and hit 1st Sgt. Jay Robinson’s police car, which was parked on the right shoulder of the interstate.

Police said the trooper’s car smashed into the car the trooper had pulled over, spun around and hit the trooper, who was outside of the car.

Stepek’s car spun back into the roadway, hitting the Mercedes a second time in the passenger side, according to the report.

Robinson was taken to Shady Grove hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released, a state police spokesman said Friday.

As troopers checked Stepek, who was pinned in his vehicle, they reported seeing marijuana within the driver’s compartment and scattered on his person.

Stepek was taken to Suburban Hospital. His condition was not known Friday. A state police spokesman said Friday that he did not know if charges were filed in the case.

All other drivers involved in the incident were unharmed, according to the report.